US4680578A - Baseline transposition and character segmenting method for printing - Google Patents

Baseline transposition and character segmenting method for printing Download PDF

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US4680578A
US4680578A US06/611,563 US61156384A US4680578A US 4680578 A US4680578 A US 4680578A US 61156384 A US61156384 A US 61156384A US 4680578 A US4680578 A US 4680578A
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character
baseline
encoded
display
characters
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Klaus-Juergen Hornig
Hans-Henning Thiessen
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Mergenthaler Linotype GmbH
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Mergenthaler Linotype GmbH
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41B—MACHINES OR ACCESSORIES FOR MAKING, SETTING, OR DISTRIBUTING TYPE; TYPE; PHOTOGRAPHIC OR PHOTOELECTRIC COMPOSING DEVICES
    • B41B19/00—Photoelectronic composing machines

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a field of phototypesetting or printing wherein alphanumeric or other characters are displayed on a screen or other light sensitive surface to form images.
  • a light sensitive surface is illuminated in the shape of an image such as an alphanumeric or other character.
  • the light sensitive surface may be the face of a CRT or may be a light sensitive sheet imaged by a laser beam or other suitable means.
  • Such phototypesetting systems and printing systems are as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,199,815 and 4,231,096, employing a CRT and a laser beam respectively.
  • the size of the character is limited by the size of the CRT screen or the range of the light sensitive sheet over which a beam such as a laser may be directed, or generally, in the case where these or other imaging means are used, the physical area over which the imaging means is constrained physically. In such cases, the size of the character capable of being displayed is limited by the size of the imaging area. Where larger sized characters are to be imaged, then the size, cost and complexity of the system must be increased accordingly to accommodate those larger sized characters.
  • characters or other shapes to be projected on a limited image area such as a CRT face or the imaging area covered by an imaging beam or other similar device are compared in size to the size of the imaging area.
  • the system in which the inventive principles are used contains an encoded character which is encoded at a master size for display at a variable size which may be larger or smaller than the master encoded size and larger and small than the display.
  • this invention can be used with a character which is encoded at a single size for display at that single size and where a change in the screen resolution, for example, may cause the characters, when projected to be larger or smaller than the relative encoded size.
  • the characters are encoded with a character physical baseline. As is usually done, the character physical baseline is referenced to or aligned with a display physical baseline location and which typically corresponds to the baseline of a text appearing on an imaging surface.
  • the character physical baseline is projected on the imaging surface to coincide with the text physical baseline.
  • the display may be thought of as an imaging window through which a writing means causes the encoded character to be displayed at its desired display size and relative to a display physical baseline location which serves as a reference for locating the encoded character physical baseline. Because it is more efficient to have a limited size display window and to move an imaging surface past the display window introducing fresh areas for projection of the displayed character on the imaging surface, the display physical baseline is referenced to its projected image location on the imaging surface, as is known in the art.
  • the display is a CRT with an imaging surface movable past the face of the CRT in the direction of a first dimension.
  • the display may also be a laser beam having a limited displacement or angular range in a first dimension and which displays the character and projects the character onto an imaging surface in a manner similar to the CRT beam, but without the intermediate imaging surface of the CRT beam.
  • a character when displayed is referenced to a display location by referencing the character physical baseline to a display physical baseline.
  • a display physical baseline In the case of a laser beam, it would be a location measured by the angular deflection of the laser beam.
  • a CRT In the case of a CRT, it would be a location on the face of the CRT imaging surface.
  • This relative movement of character to display window may be accomplished by moving the character physical baseline so its location on the display physical baseline causes the aforesaid relative movement or by moving the display physical baseline and the character physical baseline referenced to it thereby bringing the character back into the display window when it is again located in correspondence with the display physical baseline.
  • the character may be then displayed within the borders of the display window and then imaged on the movable surface.
  • characters having the said display physical baseline may be grouped and displayed and imaged as a group prior to and subsequent to the display and imaging of groups preceding and subsequent in the said order.
  • the display writing means is at the limit of its display range or window, and the movement of the display physical baseline relative to the character physical baseline is no longer useful to bring a character within the full dimension of the display, then the imaging surface can be moved relative thereto and the display means can be reset to reimage characters in successive groupings. This will be necessary where the image locations of the display physical baselines associated with the characters when projected on the imaging surface or outside the range of the display means.
  • a character encoded in the master size is to be displayed at a size larger than the screen
  • the character may be sectioned into encoded separate sections.
  • Logical baselines may be inserted in those encoded separate sections and then those logical baselines reference to a display physical baseline and location and to an image locate corresponding to the display physical baseline for the encoded logic sections.
  • the logical baselines are referenced to the encoded character physical baseline and to a respective display physical baseline.
  • the respective display physical baseline for the logical baselines are referenced to their corresponding projected location on an imaging surface.
  • the encoded separate sections then are projected on the imaging surface, by the display at locations spaced from the projected image location of the character physical baseline, and related to the encoded spacing between the logical baselines and the encoded character physical baseline so that the characters are accurately reproduced.
  • encoded characters can be grouped by the location of their respective display physical baselines on the imaging surface and ordered according to their respective locations and then displayed and imaged in groups according to that order.
  • the physical baseline or text baseline of the characters on the imaging area is defined and then the physical extent of the characters from the baseline is compared to the extremes of the imaging area border. Where the size of all characters is such that when located on the physical baseline all the characters fit within the image area, then no adjustment is necessary. Additionally, where the characters are relatively small such that more than one or a series of text lines can fit on the screen, then such text lines may be imaged in one pass requiring no adjustment of the imaging surface relative to the screen.
  • the surface's physical baseline may be shifted, thereby shifting or displacing the character on the image surface therewith to accommodate the whole character in one imaging pass. This may be accomplished, for example, in the case of a capital "A" by relatively displacing the display physical baseline on the image surface downwardly.
  • an imaging beam such as a laser or a CRT
  • part of the character was outside the imaging area of the beam or the CRT
  • the imaging surface would be moved to locate the physical baseline location on the imaging surface within the range of the imaging beam.
  • the character for example, had a descender extending beyond the bottom of the screen, the character physical baseline can be moved thereby altering the juxtaposition of the character to the display physical baseline and moving the character within the display.
  • a character projected on a CRT screen, or by a beam on an image surface, is larger than the available screen or surface area, then according to the principles of the invention, the character is segmented and imaged in at least two passes depending upon the size of the character.
  • a character is naturally separated by a gap such as the case of an accent
  • the character may be segmented between the accent and the character, with the accent imaged separately from the character.
  • the character may be conveniently segmented at the gap between the dot portion and the lower body portion.
  • a one-piece character is so large it cannot be accommodated on the available surface, then it may be segmented at any convenient location.
  • the character may be conveniently cut in the middle. Where the character has descenders, it may be conveniently cut at the location where it would ordinarily rest on the text baseline. For ascenders, such as "h” or “b”, the character may be cut where it extends beyond the lowercase border.
  • Other characters may be cut by referencing the physical baseline on the surface to the text baseline and segmenting the character where it intersects with the border of the screen. For example, if brackets ([ ]) referenced to the physical baseline (text baseline) extended beyond the borders of the screen, the system could segment the brackets at its intersections with the screen border.
  • a character is referenced to an EM square and its size defined by the EM square size.
  • the principles of the invention are described with reference to the EM square as the character is defined on a grid within the EM square and on an EM square baseline.
  • the defined EM square grid is 24 units along the vertical dimension of the EM square, from top to bottom, with regard to the accepted orientation of characters.
  • the physical baseline is located 18 units from the EM square top.
  • the area for descenders is located between 18 units from the top and 22 units from the top, with an extension area for long descenders located at the bottom two units of the 24 unit EM square (or from 22 units from the top to the bottom 24 units of the EM square).
  • the area for lower case letters being the middle area, is located from 8 units from the top to 14 units from the top, with the bottom of the middle area coinciding with the baseline, and the top of the middle area coinciding with the lowercase border.
  • An uppercase area is provided in the EM square, extending 14 units and starting 4 units from the top and extending to the baseline at the 18 unit point.
  • An extension area for ascenders is located with the bottom of such extension area coinciding with the uppercase border 4 units from the top of the EM square, the top being the 0 unit. Where characters are so large that they require segmenting in two or more pieces, then convenient segmenting locations may be chosen accordingly.
  • Each of the characters may be referenced to a location in a stored look-up table which may carry the character identification such as the character number, and its position in its EM square relative to the dimensions therein and as, for example, described above.
  • the look-up table may be used to determine whether the character at its desired size will fit on the surface relative to the physical or text baseline, whether to shift the baseline or to segment the character and the locations within the EM square position relative to the character, for segmenting the character.
  • FIG. 1 shows an EM square, divided into 24 units, whose size defines the size of the character set within the EM square.
  • FIG. 2 shows a number of characters of difference sizes referenced to a display of 18 milimeters.
  • FIG. 3 shows characters at a larger size than the display of FIG. 2 and with the characters exceeding the display in a first dimension.
  • FIG. 4 shows how the "A" of FIG. 3 and in particular, the character physical baseline of the A in FIG. 3 can be shifted on the display corresponding to the extent a part of the A exceeds the display boundry
  • FIG. 4a shows how the physical baseline of a oversize character such as a J, can be shifted to the extent it exceeds the display boundry, to locate the character fully on the screen.
  • FIG. 5 shows how a character larger than the display may be segmented by inserting a logical baseline in the character.
  • FIGS. 6-7 show how other characters may be segmented as is done in accordance with FIG. 5.
  • FIGS. 8, and 8a and 8b show how characters may be segmented, logical baselines inserted and characters having the same logical baseline displacement from the character physical baseline imaged in the same pass or as a group, prior to the imaging of other groups of characters having the same respective logical baseline displacement from the character physical baseline.
  • FIG. 1 shows an EM square used in typesetting and printing to define or provide a reference for a character.
  • the EM square as used in the preferred embodiment contains a grid and is shown as having 24 units from Top to Bottom.
  • the EM square character physical baseline is located 18 units from the top and 6 units from the bottom.
  • the Em square character physical baseline is the conventional location for referencing the character.
  • Some characters, for example, lowercase "j" and "g" contain descenders which project below the baseline into the Area for Descenders shown as located from 18 units to 22 units from the EM square top in FIG. 1.
  • An Extension Area for Long Descenders is also provided in the bottom two units of the EM square.
  • the Area for Lowercase letters is shown extending from 8 units from the Top to the baseline.
  • a Lowercase Border, located 8 units from the Top separates the Area for Lowercases from the Area for Uppercases.
  • Other characters which may extend above the Lowercase Border are lowercase "1", lowercase "d” and lowercase “f”.
  • An Extension Area for Accents is provided from the Top of the EM square, (0 unit level), to 4 units from the Top. This area is typically used to locate accents relative to the character.
  • the characters defined within the EM square are encoded in digital data.
  • That data is then used to modulate a display and to set the characters on a text baseline relative to each other and with reference to the location of each character within its individual EM square.
  • an encoded normalized character set on a 24 unit grid may be projected onto a screen at different sizes.
  • the 24 EM square grid units may be expanded to a much higher resolution such as, for example, 432 vertical by 432 horizontal units.
  • the EM square is not part of the inventive principles, but it does offer a convenient reference for locating a character relative to its character physical baseline encoded in the encoded character data and for identifying one or more logical baselines in the character when the character is segmented.
  • the imaging means is assumed to be a CRT screen or display which forms an image.
  • the image is then projected on an image surface.
  • the display physical baseline is then used as a reference location for the CRT imaging means.
  • any other imaging means used such as a light source projecting an image directly on a surface, will be referenced directly to the physical baseline on the surface.
  • the display physical baseline on the intermediate imaging means would be referenced relative to the baseline on the final imaging means, as is known in the art.
  • FIG. 2 an example of a CRT screen is shown having a total vertical dimension of 18 mm.
  • the 24 unit EM square shown in FIG. 1 may be thought of as projected to on the 18 mm. screen, so that the 18 mm. vertical direction corresponds to the 24 units of the EM square.
  • the character itself defined within the EM square typically would be less then 18 mm.
  • the physical baseline in the encoded EM square corresponds to the location of the physical baseline on the screen, and where none of the characters exceed the imaging surface's vertical dimension from the baseline to its Top 5 and none of the characters have descenders which extend beyond the Bottom 6 of the surface, all of the characters may be accommodated on the screen and no shift of the physical baseline on the screen or segmenting is necessary.
  • the characters projected on the screen may be increased in size by specifying a displayed EM square size larger than 51 points such that only the lowercase letters are less than the surface size and can be accommodated with the surface boundaries.
  • a displayed EM square size larger than 51 points such that only the lowercase letters are less than the surface size and can be accommodated with the surface boundaries.
  • the lowercase “c” is shown on the physical baseline within the Top 5 and Bottom 6 of the screen, while the capital “A” extends over the Top 5 at locations 7 and 9 and the descender portion of the "j" extends over the Bottom boundary 6 at location 8.
  • the physical baseline on the screen may be displaced vertically in the direction of arrow 12, sufficiently to bring the bottom portion of the "j" within the Bottom 6 of the screen.
  • the physical baseline of the A may be displaced downwardly in direction of arrow 10 to bring the top portion of the "A" within the Top 5 of the screen. Displacement of the physical baseline either in the direction of arrow 10 or 12 will bring the character into full view on the screen until the size becomes larger than the available screen size. Where the screen size is 18 mm., the maximum size character that can be accommodated is 18 mm.
  • the maximum imaged size of the character may be shown for example by FIG. 4 wherein the "A” is projected to the maximum size of the screen and with the physical baseline for the "A” being referenced at the Bottom 6 of the screen.
  • FIG. 4a is shown the “j" wherein the physical baseline is displaced upwardly so the full size of the "j" including the dot portion may be displayed on the screen.
  • the screen physical baseline and the imaging surface must be moved relative to each other to maintain the screen baseline with the imaging surface baseline in alignment.
  • a character may be segmented where the size of the imaged character on the screen is larger than the screen.
  • the character may be separated at the gap by projecting a new logical baseline for the accent and then referencing that logical baseline to the screen as shown in FIG. 5a.
  • the imaging surface then would be shifted relative to the accent to locate the physical baseline of the text on the imaging surface in correspondence to the accent and at the proper location relative to the logical baseline of the accent.
  • the logical baseline on the screen may be located on the screen and relative to the physical baseline on the surface in any suitable relationship.
  • the remaining portion of the character such as the "A" shown in FIG. 5 is large enough to be accommodated on the screen, then its screen physical baseline may be located as necessary to accommodate the character at its designated size as shown in FIG. 5b.
  • the character may be imaged in two passes, first imaging the accent and then relatively shifting the imaging surface and imaging the remainder of the character.
  • characters larger than the total vertical dimension of the screen could be accommodated by segmenting the characters and imaging the characters in parts, and as shown in FIGS. 5, 5a and 5b by relatively shifting the baseline on the imaging surface to locate it in correspondence to the character and baseline on the screen.
  • a character need not be segmented unless its displayed size is larger than the maximum size of the screen. For example, if the maximum size of the screen, is 18 mm., as shown, then any character larger than 18 mm. would be segmented.
  • a logical baseline is added to the character. In addition to the physical baseline, the logical baseline may be viewed as a reference location on the character for locating the segmented character parts at their proper locations relative to the baseline on the screen and imaging surface.
  • FIGS. 6, 6a and 6b Further examples of segmenting the character may be seen in FIGS. 6, 6a and 6b wherein the character is shown defined within the EM square and extending from the Area for Descenders (18 to 22 units) into the Extension Area for Accents (0 to 4 units).
  • a character such as the uppercase "B”, when displayed at a size larger than the available screen size may be imaged in two or more steps, depending upon the point size and with the imaging surface shifted to bring the image surface physical baseline into alignment with the logical baseline relative to the screen.
  • FIG. 6a where the upper portion of the "B" is displayed, the text image baseline on the image surface is displaced from the logical base-line a distance equal to the remaining part of the character opposite the segmenting line S2.
  • the image surface physical baseline corresponding to the text baseline would be located at some point below the screen as shown by, for example, the dash line.
  • the part of the "B" above the segment line S2 would be imaged.
  • the bottom portion of the character "B" extending from the segment line S2 would be imaged.
  • the character may be segmented where the character intersects with the physical baseline, shown by S1, and then imaged relative to the physical baseline or text baseline on the screen in a similar manner as that explained above.
  • the logical baseline would correspond to the physical baseline.
  • the part of the character above the segment line S1 is imaged relative to the text baseline on the imaging surface as shown in FIG. 7a.
  • the relative position of the imaging surface may be adjusted upwardly to locate the image surface physical baseline in correspondence to the logical baseline, so the character is imaged opposite the appropriate location on the imaging surface, as shown in FIG. 7b.
  • FIGS. 8, 8a, 8b and 8c illustrate how the imaging means such as the CRT screen may be displaced, relative to the imaging surface to form successive portions of the characters in successive passes.
  • the relative vertical dimension of a CRT is shown therein.
  • a series of characters are shown imaged in the same series of sequential scans. It should be understood that each character can be separately imaged and completed prior to the imaging of any other character and that the CRT screen may be placed in any location relative to the imaging surface. Further, the physical baseline on the CRT screen may take different locations relative to the text baseline.
  • the portion of the character selected for imaging will be related to the location of the CRT screen and the physical baseline on the CRT screen will be located relative to the text baseline.
  • the CRT screen may be displaced and the imaging surface held stationary or the imaging surface may be displaced and the CRT screen or other imaging means held stationary. In the preferred embodiment, the CRT screen is held stationary and the imaging surface is moved relative thereto.
  • the CRT is oriented with its physical baseline corresponding to the Text Baseline.
  • lowercase "o”, uppercase “A”, and uppercase “U” can be fully imaged in one pass.
  • the accent above the upper case “A”, the small lowercase “j” and the larger lowercase “j” and the "[” will require a succession of passes.
  • the CRT screen and its physical baseline oriented differently with regard to the Text Baseline, and with regard to each individual character, for example, it would be possible to image in one pass lowercase "o", and the smaller lowercase “j”. However, that process would require more separate increments of the imaging surface relative to the CRT or imaging means.
  • the characters in FIG. 8 are imaged in three passes, it being understood that the number of passes may be varied as well as the orientation of the characters on the CRT physical baseline and the segmenting for the characters according to the principles of the invention.
  • the accent and the upper portion of the "[” is imaged on a first pass as shown in FIG. 8a.
  • the imaging surface is then moved relative to the CRT screen, a distance equal to the vertical dimension of the imaging surface and in pass number two, the lowercase “o", the dot on the larger lowercase “j", the capital “A”, the captial "U” and the middle portion of the "[” are imaged.
  • the imaging surface is moved half the vertical distance of the CRT screen and the remaining portion of the larger lowercase "j” is imaged and the full portion of the lowercase “j” is imaged.
  • the lowercase “o” may be imaged on the CRT face with using less than the full vertical dimension of the CRT imaging means.
  • the uppercase “A” and the uppercase “U” are of a size that requires the full vertical dimension of the CRT screen.
  • the "[” is shown imaged in three passes. Since the "[” has no natural gaps upon which it may be segmented, the "[” is shown segmented at the text baseline location and at a second location separated from the first segmenting point by the vertical dimension of the imaging means.
  • the small lowercase “j" fits within the CRT beam, it may be imaged in one pass, namely the third pass upon incrementing the imaging means relative to the imaging surface one-half the distance of the vertical dimension of the imaging means.
  • characters are defined within an EM square.
  • the EM square is related to the point size of the characters, the point size being the size of the M square.
  • the point size being the size of the M square.
  • the 18 mm. would be an EM square of 51 points.
  • a character defined within an EM is smaller than the given EM square. For example, where the EM square is defined in a 24 unit grid and where the 24 unit grid is assumed to be equal to a 51 point EM square or 18 mm., then a character of 18 units within a 24 unit grid of the 51 point EM square would correspond to 13 point mm. on the screen.
  • those characters which do not exceed 14 vertical units can be typeset in one pass. These may be ascendeer characters without descenders and descender characters without ascenders and lower and uppercase characters. Suitable shifting of the physical baseline in accordance with the text baseline and 68 point imaging surface can be successfully used to avoid segmenting of most characters. Those characters occupying more than 14 points in the 24 unit EM square such as lowercase "j" having an ascender and "A" are segmented at specially designated segmenting cut lines. The position of the cut lines are selected at locations that will be least visible in the typeset output material. Good locations for cutting characters are at natural gaps and at the upper and lowercase borders (see FIG. 1).
  • characters such as lower case “j", “a” and “o” can be segmented at the lower case borders and the middle of the gap separating two parts of the characters.
  • Other characters having descenders will be segmented where that descender crosses the physical baseline or the text baseline.
  • Other characters located on the baseline can be segmented at the middle of the character.
  • Above 68 point or 18 mm. characters are imaged in as many passed as necessary to display the full character shape.
  • the segmenting locations can be located in the data store for each character.
  • the rows and columns within the matrix can be read either up to a segmenting line or started from a segmenting line depending upon the section of the character to be displayed.
  • the segment locations can be referenced as to the encoding points on the coordinate system.
  • the uppercase area is inside the screen and the lowercase area is inside the screen, the uppercase area is imaged in a first pass with the lowercase area.
  • the uppercase area is inside the screen and the area for descenders is outside the screen, the uppercase area is imaged in the first pass.
  • the uppercase area is inside the screen and the lowercase area is inside the screen and the area for descenders is inside the screen, the uppercase area is imaged in a first pass together with the lowercase area and the area for descenders.
  • the uppercase area is partially imaged.
  • the lowercase area is inside the screen, the lowercase area is imaged.
  • the area for descenders is inside the screen, the area for descenders is imaged.
  • the invention may be implemented in two steps.
  • a first step requires that characters be analyzed for the best location of the segment lines. This has been described above with regard to accented characters, characters have ascenders and characters having descenders.
  • the second step requires a determination of the physical baseline on the CRT screen relative to the text baseline or in the case of other imagiing devices such as light sources, the location of the physical baseline of the imaging means relative to the borders of the available imaging area. As stated above, and as this invention is described, using the example of a CRT screen, the second step requires a decision for the location of the physical baseline on the screen.
  • the character baseline need not be shifted nor segmenting be accomplished except for those characters located on baselines near the borders of the screen and where the characters on those text baselines have portions extending outside the available screen area.
  • the respective text baselines may be imaged after incrementing or displacement of the screen relative to the image surface, and with another group of text baselines.
  • the screen has an initial physical baseline location for imaging the characters and that decisions with regard to shifting of the baseline or segmenting are made relative to that initial baseline location and the character size relative to the boundaries of the screen.
  • the designated size of the character when imaged must be compared with the distance of the screen from the baseline to its top vertical boundary in a first direction and bottom vertical boundary in a second direction, for characters having ascenders and descenders, respectively.
  • the physical baseline is shifted on the screen either upwardly or downwardly in a vertical direction to accommodate the full character.
  • the imaging surface is then moved relative thereto to bring the text baseline in correspondence with the physical baseline.
  • the class of the largest character that could be imaged within the screen can be determined.
  • characters can be classified according to individual character size such as lowercase without ascenders, lowercase with ascenders, uppercase without accents, uppercase with accents, lowercase with descenders, and lowercase with extended descenders. These characters are usually designed such that lowercase characters are the smallest and the uppercase characters with accents are the largest.
  • a typical example of such a classification with a single size font would produce the following classes ranging from smallest to largest characters:
  • the decisional process would require an examination of each class size from largest size to the smallest and identify the class of characters being the largest size which will fit on the screen at the designated imaging size.
  • the baseline on the screen would be adjusted as necessary shifting it to accommodate those characters of that identified class. Further, within this decisional process, characters having descenders may be excluded leaving only uppercase with accents, uppercase and lowercase with ascenders and lowercase characters to be considered. For the sake of explanation we will assume the latter case, that only the uppercase with accents, lowercase with ascenders and uppercase and lowercase will be considered in the above.
  • the screen is typically divided into a number of lines. These lines are used to index the screen in the vertical or "y" direction.
  • the line resolution is typically finer than the resolution between text lines.
  • the lines in the "y" direction may form a grid in conjunction with lines in the horizontal or "x” direction.
  • the imaging beam within the CRT screen may be located at any point on the screen referenced to the "x-y" grid and the characters may be imaged accordingly by controlling the movement of the beam.
  • the lines dividing the screen in the "y" direction may be referenced to the text baselines and to the location of the imaging surface opposite the CRT screen.
  • the beam may then be moved to image a character with the film surface moved relative thereto as necessary to move the film surface opposite the beam to image a new text line or segmented portions of characters appearing on the same text line.
  • the process continues by separately identifying those characters larger than the screen in a first direction and located off the top of the screen and those characters larger than the screen in a second direction off the bottom of the screen. The process then determines the baseline location on the screen necessary to image the identified class of characters.
  • the process then may group those characters imaged off the screen relative to the designated screen baseline which are equal to or less than the size of the screen which can be imaged within a previous or the successive increment of the imaging surface relative to the screen.
  • the characters may be referenced to the specific lines in the "y" direction across which the characters are imaged and characters may be sorted for imaging in separate passes depending upon the respective lines for each character.
  • An example is shown with respect to FIGS. 8a and 8b but it should be understood that the combination chosen for imaging characters may be changed without deviating from the principles of the invention.
  • the lines may be arranged into groups corresponding to respective passes.
  • the characters arranged within the separate groups may be arranged in a stack relative to the order of lines in the "y" direction and imaged when the imaging surface is moved into a position relative to the screen corresponding with the designated "y" values of a respective group.
  • the CRT screen is assumed to be divided into 300 vertical lines.
  • the upper case "A” without accent, imaged at the specified size will be juxtaposed on 100 lines corresponding to the full vertical length of the screen.
  • the larger lowercase “j” at its image size will occupy 100 lines exclusive of the dot.
  • the lowercase “o” will occupy approximately 60 lines.
  • the lower case “j” inclusive of the dot will occupy approximately "60” lines.
  • the accent above the "A” will occupy approximately 20 lines.
  • the largest character being the "[” will occupy 160 lines with 20 lines extending above the midportion of the bracket and 30 lines extending below the midportion of the bracket.
  • a portion of the characters may be imaged in one pass as they occupy no more than the full size of the screen.
  • Other characters will require segmenting and separate imaging.
  • the "U” and the "A" without the accent can be imaged in one pass.
  • the decision may be to image those complete characters that can be imaged in one pass and fall on lines 100 to 200 and to image those characters that extend beyond 100 imaging lines but can be segmented by a gap. This means the "A", the "U” and the lowercase “o”0 falling within lines 99 to 199 will be imaged in one pass.
  • the decisional logic may then separate those characters such as the larger lowercase "j" and the smallest lowercase “j” and the accent above the "A" which can be imaged within the screen on 100 lines or less and can be imaged in one pass. Characters which can be imaged in one pass are rare grouped by common "y" values. The screen is moved relative to the imaging surface to locate those designated "y" values within the screen and the imaging sequence is resumed. In this way, whole portions of a character may be imaged without segmenting. The result of the process can be seen in FIGS. 8a, 8b and 8c. Segmented characters (i.e.
  • the accent "O" and "[" are segmented and those segmented portions are imaged in the first pass corresponding to imaging lines of a first set of "y” values.
  • a second pass a second group of characters or segments thereof are imaged on a second set of "y” values.
  • those characters which extend over more than 100 image lines but which can be segmented into parts each imaged on less than 100 image lines may be separately imaged as two separate characters such as the "A" with accent and the larger lowercase "j".
  • each segment is grouped in common with all other character lines on the same imaging lines having the same "y” values. In such a case, the main body portion of the larger lowercase “j” is imaged with the smaller lowercase "j” while the dot portion of the larger case “j” is imaged with lowercase “o", the capital "A” and "U”.
  • the decisional logic for imaging a character is given in the following.
  • the accent area is the area from 0 to 4 units from the top of the EM square.
  • the area for uppercase is the area from 4 units from the top to 18 units from the top or 14 units.
  • the area for lowercase is from 8 to 18 units or a total of 10 units.
  • the area for descenders including the extension area for long descenders is from 18 to 24 or a total of 6 units.
  • the character size is given relative to the screen.
  • a table may be established indicating the projected size or displayed size relevant when segmenting is initiated, all relative to the encoded size.
  • characters are encoded on a coordinate system which in the preferred embodiment is shown as a 24 unit EM square.
  • characters are encoded in an EM square with a defined unit spacing size. Within that EM square size, some of the characters will be larger than others. For example, an "A” will be larger than the lowercase “a” and a "A" having an accent will be larger than the "A” without such an accent.
  • some characters of the same size will occupy different portions of the 24 unit EM square used for defining the character and two characters of the same EM square size and aligned on the same baseline may have portions extending beyond the screen.
  • a lowercase "j" having a descender aligned on the baseline with a "A” may both be of a size that causes the "A” to fill the screen completely while the bottom portion of the lowercase “j” extends beyond the bottom of the screen.
  • a decisional logic system can then be based upon the location of the character in the EM square used to define the character (the encoding EM square), as well as the size of the character within the encoding EM square.
  • each of the characters are analyzed with respect to its position within a 24 unit EM square (used in the preferred embodiment) and the number of units occupied by the character within the 24 unit EM square.
  • the last column within Table I then provides the relationship between the number of units occupied within the encoding EM square by the character and the maximum character size for a defined screen size which serves as a criteria for implementing the segmentation process. For example, lowercase “a” does not extend beyond the lowercase border, the uppercase border or the extended baseline. Lowercase “a” would be defined within the EM square shown on FIG. 1 between unit 8 and unit 18, occupying a space of 10 units. When lowercase "a” is displayed at the maximum screen size or at a height of 18 mm.
  • the EM square outline or the size of the encoding EM square of 24 units as shown on FIG. 1 as projected on the display would be larger than 18 mm., when the lowercase "a" occupying a portion of the encoding EM square and, therefore, a portion of the total EM square is at the maximum display height.
  • a typeface is encoded on a coordinate system of X vertical units and is to be displayed on a display size of Y vertical units such as millimeters
  • a lowercase character occupying 10 encoding units with a 24 unit EM square can be displayed at a typeface size or EM square size of 43.2 mm. That 43.2 mm. at 0.351 mm. per point corresponds to a typeface size of 123 point.
  • a typeface defined in an EM square size of 123 point will have lowercase characters such as lowercase "a" capable of being displayed on the 18 mm. screen before segmenting.
  • Table I can be used to determine when to segment a character and in which of the successive passes to image the character. For example, characters with descenders having portions extending outside a display screen would be imaged in a successive pass as shown in FIG. 8a, 8b and 8c. While characters with gaps such as the "A" and the lowercase “j" could be imaged either in one pass where the character fits within the screen on that one pass or separately where the character may be segmented such as by gaps.
  • Table I is described with reference to the preferred embodiment, it being understood that the application of the principles therein to other systems with different screen sizes and different coordinate encoding systems could be accomplished consistent with the principles of the invention.
  • One such calculation would be to determine whether any portion of the character given the baseline location on the screen extends beyond the screen. If that character is still within the maximum screen size, it would be imaged on the subsequent or preceding scan. If segmentation was required then, it would be segmented given the stored locations within the data where the character may be segmented and imaged in separate passes. As stated earlier, characters having gaps may be segmented at the gap. Characters may otherwise be segmented in the middle which may be indicated by a default condition or it may be segmented at any other suitable portion, for example, as shown by the "[".
  • the line spacing status is set when characters within the text line surmount the confines of the tube window (given by the exposure-active diameter of the tube).
  • this line is removed from the text line chain and is added to a line spacing chain.
  • the line spacing chain is processed in the background with the procedure ⁇ YADVANCE - LINESPACING ⁇ analogous to the line stack.
  • the exposure window is shifted thereby from pass to pass from top to bottom over the interface line to be exposed.
  • the interface positions for the characters are preset to the values
  • Informations of the interface positions cause the placing of the interface position outside of the character flesh into the white area of the character.
  • An exposed partial length of a character is regarded as nonexisting for subsequent passes.
  • Interface characters are exclusively exposed upon advancing carriage movement while characters which are not subjected to the interface condition are exposed like normal characters upon advancing or returning carriage movement.
  • the line spacing chain is processed in the background with procedure YADVANCE-LINESPACING analogous to the line stack.
  • the value of the film advance is divided up and an exposure pass for a line spacing line is respectively forwarded after output of a part piece.
  • the YPASS values of the line spacing chain are reduced by the value of the film advance.

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  • Controls And Circuits For Display Device (AREA)
  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
  • Transforming Electric Information Into Light Information (AREA)
  • Cameras Adapted For Combination With Other Photographic Or Optical Apparatuses (AREA)
US06/611,563 1983-05-17 1984-05-17 Baseline transposition and character segmenting method for printing Expired - Fee Related US4680578A (en)

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US4849910A (en) * 1985-09-27 1989-07-18 Oce-Nederland B.V. Method for generating line segments
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US5274365A (en) * 1988-10-26 1993-12-28 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Method and apparatus for minimizing the visual degradation of digital typefaces-character analysis
US5281959A (en) * 1988-10-26 1994-01-25 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Method and apparatus for minimizing the visual degradation of digital typeface--horizontal adjustment
US5487137A (en) * 1992-06-11 1996-01-23 Seiko Epson Corporation Print data processing apparatus
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US5570464A (en) * 1992-12-25 1996-10-29 Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Controller for a recording apparatus

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Publication number Publication date
ATE44259T1 (de) 1989-07-15
DE3478798D1 (en) 1989-08-03
EP0125668A2 (de) 1984-11-21
CA1226687A (en) 1987-09-08
DE3317842A1 (de) 1984-12-06
EP0125668B1 (de) 1989-06-28
EP0125668A3 (en) 1985-10-23

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